Architects Row Community Association

Minutes of the March 7^th, 2006 Meeting

In Attendance: JoAnn, Ben, McKinzie, David C., Laurie, Lin, David H., Carol, Milton, Rotunda

Guests: Shirl Byron of NEDA, Don, Travis, Robbie, Camille

1.Shirl Byron, the director of the Northeast Development Alliance (NEDA), attended to collect stories for the “Acts of Neighborliness” storytelling project. The purpose of this project is to publish a pamphlet containing stories that illustrate and promote community etiquette, courtesy, neighborliness, and guidelines. Shirl is currently collecting stories from residents in surrounding city neighborhoods that discuss memories and experiences of living in Northeast Baltimore. A panel will select some of these stories to publish in the pamphlet, which will be dispersed to local businesses, churches, schools, banks, realtors, and communities in hopes of fostering a greater sense of neighborliness.

Towson University will possibly host role model plays in conjunction with the pamphlet, and the Fall 2006 Film Department is considering the idea of a student produced video to accompany the project. The Architects Row website may also include our own neighborhood stories, which were discussed at this meeting.

Residents who attended this meeting shared stories by speaking into a tape recorder. Shirl will transcribe each story, each of which may possibly be chosen for the final pamphlet.Residents shared stories about the eagerness of neighbors to help, the beauty of the neighborhood, and the friendliness they have experienced since living on Chinquapin Parkway.

The attendees also discussed the importance of maintaining a close-knit community that holds neighborhood clean-ups, meetings, and parties to foster a sense of belonging and community pride. The Architects Row Community Association currently holds monthly clean-ups and meetings and is planning a community yard sale for Spring 2006.

2. Treasurer’s Report- There is currently $683.72 in the association’s checking account and $683.85 in the savings account, for a total of $1367.57.

Announcements:

~Anyone who would like a short (2-3 sentence) profile listed on our community website should contact Ben. Any resident may submit a short profile with information such as name, interests, occupation, pets, etc.

~One agenda item for the April meeting is to discuss the possibility of changing the meeting day from Tuesday so that residents who are not available on this night may have the opportunity to attend meetings.

~The first Spring Yard Sale committee meeting will be held on Sunday, March 19^th at 4:00 pm at Milton’s (6178). The Yard Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 6^th from 10:00 am-2:00 pm.

~The next neighborhood cleanup will be held on Saturday, April 1^st from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

~The next meeting date and place will be announced via flyer.

Thanks to Lin and David for hosting, to all who shared stories, and to all who attended.

Minutes submitted by Carol